The Constitutional Commission says it will try its best to meet the deadline and conclude its work by the first week of January next year however they may ask for a short extension.
While opening the public consultations in Nadi today, Commission Chairman Professor Yash Ghai said the Constituent Assembly is expected to debate on the draft constitution and it will have until the 3rd week of March in 2013 to adopt the constitution.
It will then be submitted to a 5 person judicial tribunal headed by the Chief Justice and including at least 2 foreign judges, to determine whether the constitution complies with the values and principles set out in the constitution commission decree, including immunity for the military and the government.
Professor Ghai said although they have lost a month, they do not want to rush public consultations and hearings which lie at the heart of the process.
He said although they may seek a short extension, they know that Fijians are looking forward to the elections and they are confident that they will finish their work in good time so that elections can be held as promised.
Professor Ghai also said that the commission is independent in the discharge of its functions and no one, not even the government, can interfere in its tasks.
He said the commission members enjoy security of tenure, it employs its own staff and it controls its own finances.
Professor Ghai said the commission also decides on its procedure and the government is obliged to co-operate with the commission to ensure that its work proceeds as smoothly as possible.
The public consultations continue in Nadi.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
